Saturday, April 19, 2008

The Loooooong Admit Journey - Part 2

The interviews for MBA applicants are the most challenging part of the MBA application. A telephonic interview is better compared to a face to face interview. But it has its own share of merits and de-merits. Answering questions face to face is easier than telephonic interview where we have to maintain our concentration for half an hour or more.

I had a couple of telephonic interviews in which I had the most clichéd questions asked along with some new questions. The toughest one was at Kelley’s interview where they had asked me situational questions like if I were the lead and the project had overshot its time, what steps I would take. There were other challenging questions also. I had prepared for other interviews but not for Kelley’s as I was down with fever a day before. The interview didn’t go off very well. I guess I should have prepared better.

But the best interview came in the form of a face to face interview with a Fisher school admission committee (adcom) member, Kara. I still remember every detail of that interview. The interview was scheduled at TAJ in Bangalore at 9 AM. I had reached the place an hour earlier and was sitting in the lobby looking around the beautiful place and the equally beautiful people. In about 5-10 minutes I had the company of other admitants who had come in for their interviews in full formals with blazers and stuff.. Man, I really started getting nervous at that point.

I tried calling the room number of my interviewer and was unable to reach her. There were so many people in the lobby that I didn’t know whom to contact and ask. Precious minutes began ticking away and parellely my tension grew. Collecting all my courage I proceeded towards an interviewer and asked her where I could find my interviewer. She motioned towards a person sitting in the last seat taking an interview. I went and stood beside my interviewer. She gave a casual glance and asked me to wait till the interview was over. Pretty female I shud say :) Then I had my interview and after 1-2 mins of initial nervousness it was pretty cool. The interview which was supposed to 15 mins went on for 45 minutes and we were talking about the weather and lake beside Fisher. I guess I should thank my friend Sid presently at fisher who gave me all the small insights into the school. That’s when I realized the importance of networking. Kara and I exchanged cards and I heaved a huge sigh of relief. I also attended the MBA fair in the same building. The fair was really good. So people starting for MBA preparation can ideally start by attending these fairs which is the best place to look for MBA related information and these fairs usually come in the last months of the calendar year to India.

Interview processes are very interesting experience where preparation and good communication can help us do wonders in what the most important stage of MBA admits process.. On the whole the Pre-MBA admission process really helps us focus and fine-tune our energies and we go into the schools a lot learned persons than what we are before.

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